Hi, I was diagnosed with menpause at the early age of 45. I have not tried HRT as I was terrifed of it due to the studies indicating early breast cancer etc. I have hot flashes, mood swing, I feel like I am aging much faster, ( less hair growth, thin hair, dull skin) total insomnia and the worse loss of libido etc. I talked to two doctors, one a female who takes it herself and one a male who said it will for sure incrase my risk of breast cancer and then he suggested I get a bone density check and thyroid check. I did have a thyroid test last year that came out fine. Should I get one every year? My mom had early menopause and took HRT all the way until 67 then they made her get off. Anyone have any good experience with it? Has everyone had a bone density test?
Hi K12563, HRT is not for everyone. I had no luck with it, then my doctor put me on low dose birth control pills and while they did help until I got off of them due to the scare also, of breast cancer, etc. there are alternatives in controlling some of the symptoms associated with this change. Macca for one is an excellent alternative, for hot flashes, I took Flax seed oil, and a pill called Hot Flash, sold otc here in the States. Primrose oil if you can tolerate it is also good, along with Borage oil. But the best results I got were the Macca and Flax seed oil. Since I do have sensitivities those two did not bother me. I also took Dong Quai tea which really helped but not for hot flashes. I also took St. John's wort for anxiety and heart palpitations, which put them to rest. I had really bad symptoms once I came off the bc pills but finding alternatives helped me to cope, my symptoms now are minor but that's because I stay away from soy lecithin or any type of soy products. Sugar will also exascerbate your symptoms so try to limit your sugar intake.
I had a bone density done, it doesn't hurt, it's basically an x-ray, or a scan that measures the density of your bones.
I suggest you try taking Vitamin C. See if that helps with your labido issues or try a multi-vitamin. It seems to work for me.
Whatever your decision, give alternative medicine a try, if the scare of HRT still bothers you. I hope this information helps a little. Best of luck.
I agree with k1 reply if you can stick with the alternative do so sage leaf is also good for hot flushes I believe. at the moment I take a product called menapace there is 3 or 4 different ones original, night one and one for hot flushes I think it will be trial and error but dont forget they will take two/three weeks to kick in. I also take evening primrose oil 1000g strength and I use essential oils again there are different ones. I dont know if you have a holland and barrett where you are or go to any herbal shop and they will advise you. I personally would not take hrt but that is my preference some it may suit itts what suits you and your body best my love. I hope you find something that helps you oh just a tip if you find something that suits in the herbal shop go on to amazon it works out cheaper I even get my menapace from there
I agree with the girls. I was on HRT and it DID work very well. But then I started bleeding again.
I'm now on sage leaves (find the right brand, they vary in efficacy), Vit's C, D3 and K2 (more on that later) Magnesium and I eat flax seeds daily (in porridge or with yoghurt). Not only are they rich in Omega 3 but the ones you don't chew act like a scouring pad in your colon and helpkeep you 'regular'!
Pat is right, sugar is a no, no. As are any highly processed foods. Read the labels, if it sounds like a petrochemical works that means it is. Margarine is a by product of the oil industry and the added 'vits' are mineral based and no good for you.
That brings me on to bone density. As we age our bones become less dense - fact. But that is not necessarily a bad thing. Calcium tablets, however, are a bad thing. It is more important to get your calcium from food (dairy and dark green leafy veg) Vit D helps to utilise calcium and K2 makes sure it gets to your bones and NOT your arteries.
Since I have been doing all that I have lost weight and have more energy and (much) fewer flushes. The one thing I can't seem to do anything about is the joint/muscle pain from every injury I ever had, that have all come back to haunt me. Still, I'm working on it.
BTW Menopace didn't work for me and it contains soy.
Hi K. I am 45, started peri roughly 5mths ago, but onset could be as long as 2yrs ago as had very irreg bleeding for 2yrs, then all the other horrid symptoms crept in approx 5mths ago. I started hrt in april. estrogel nightly, & utrogestan tablets=200mg nightly days 15-26 of a 28day cycle. the mental symptoms, headaches & sleeplessness are immensly better. the 2yrs of irreg bleeding has been eliminated. i still get night sweats, but now many of the other symptoms are improved i can cope with that. i am ill with other matters at present & off work, & i truly believe if i hadnt started the hrt when i did, i would not be coping mentally right now. the only side effects i've had are bit of tenderness in breast on & off through the month, & boobs feel fuller/firmer (happy days!!) i have put on between 5-7lbs which fluctuates day to day by 2lbs sometimes(water) which i am told is quite normal for women anyway. but this weight gain could also be due to the fact i am off work resting/not doing much due to illness too, will not really know til i am better & back at work. like you i was worried about poss risks of hrt. my gp is a meno specialist & i had 2 long consultations with her before deciding to try it. she put me on a low dose/low risk regimen & luckily this formula suits me(sometimes women have to try different regimens before they find what suits them/improves symptoms). the transdermal formulas carry the lowest risk (gels, patches). when hrt came out 10yrs plus ago, there were lots of initial health scares, but also now there are many more newer formulas that carry very low risks compared to when hrt first came out. also if you have estrogen, you must "oppose" it with protective progesterone. if you are thinking about it k, i would ask your gp surgery if they have a gp there that specialises in meno or gynae, or a meno nurse to get the best advice on hrt for you personally, then weigh up for yourself if you want to try it. you normally have to give it at least 3mths to see if it helps. hope this helps hun. xx
hi patra. I was really interested in your answer here especially about soy. What affect did it have on you. I was taking a menopause supplement with soy isoflavone and seemed to give me terrible low mood. wonder if this happened to you? just stopped taking them thinking it might be the soy. I have ordered maca and hoping that helps. I was given HRT which I tried for a few days (made it to three days but low mood took over similar to affect of menopause supplement). had you tried soy and how did you feel
bobby, i just replied to patra there about soy. I stopped taking Menopace too. can I ask what brand of flax you take and also, K2 how much of that do you take. i am taking D3 400iu daily. i have ordered maca, have you tried that? thnks
Hi there,
Just wanted to add that chia seeds are a great source of calcium.
Hi. I've been taking menopace night and it seems to have helped with the night sweats. I've been using soya milk for a few years thinking I was keeping my oestrogen levels up. And nuts and seeds and rhubarb which I believe is a form of natural plant oestrogens. I'm still having monthly periods at 57. Tho they are extremely heavy due to a 3cm fibroid and multiple small ones. I'm thinking now that I should use a progesterone cream to 'oppose' it as looloo has suggested. Am I prolonging my periods by using soya? In my mind I'm thinking I'm keeping my body young?? I find it all so confusing. My last blood tests showed my oestrogen levels were high for my age. I didn't start menstruating till I was 15 if that has any bearing. I have palpitations, slight anxiety, bit of weight gain around middle and thinning hair but apart from that I seem to be coping. I have an understanding husband and daughters who let me be if I need time to myself. Why is soya bad? I thought it was a natural plant oestrogen. Anybody help?
I know you can get flax seed oil, but I have organic golden flax seeds.
We only found out about K2 recently. We knew that D3 was important and that most of us in the Northern hemisphere are deficient in it. But new research is finding out that as Vit D3 helps to 'extract' calcium from your food, K2 makes sure it gets to your bones and not your arteries. Which can only be a good thing, right?
The tabs I take are Vit K2 MK7 100mcg - if that means anything!
I've heard of Macca, but never tried it. Let me know how you go on.
Hi marli, adding chia seeds to the list! That's flax, sunflower, sesame, pumpkin, plus coconut, golden raisins (for a little sweetness), almonds, walnuts. Yummy.
You may already know this, but if not, when you get while flaxseeds ground them in a little electric grinder as you need them. And keep them refrigerated. Grinding releases all the goodness and refrigeration prevents them from going rancid.
That's a great list of stuff!
The main problem for me is 95% of soya today is GM. It's been bred to be resistant to systemic weedkiller. It is in the plant so it's in anyone who eats it.
A mortar and pestle does the same job. if you don't 'crack' flax seeds they, er, go straight through! Like Dynorod.
If you high already in Estrogen, I see a need to consume estrogenic foods. But opposing the Estrogen with a bio identical progesterone may be something you would like to look into. The ratio of Progesterone to Estrogen is really important. So if your ratio is good, although I'm banking on that as this stage your Progesterone is low, you wouldn't try do anything. But you do have symptoms of elevated Estrogen.
My fingers should have typed I DON'T see a need to consume estrogenic foods if your Estrogen is already high.
That works too!
Hi their it's been probably 8 years since I have went through the full change and I had been taking HRT for years and I didn't have any problems. Your chances of Breast cancer only got up a percent or 2 and I was willing to risk it to ease my symptoms as mine were ridiculous bad I was having all flushes and headaches and quite dizzy. At my old ripe age of 76 I'm always open to giving advice and I say just take it cause it will help but your opinion matters most of all. Many regards -Mary
Hi metamorphed, my experience with soy has been one of mostly feeling down with lots of hot flashes. I even had to lay off chocolate and caffeine to stop the hot flashes. So as long as I read the labels to keep to make sure it doesn't have any soy in it, my body stays neutral. My doctor was the one who told to stay away from soy products, and she was right. Aside from this she also said that they are mostly GMO, and that medical studies have shown to cause disruption in hormone levels. So, this is why I mention to stay away from soy products. I hope this answers your question. Take care.